Molly and Kitty, or Peasant Life in Ireland; with Other Tales

"Molly and Kitty, or Peasant Life in Ireland; with Other Tales" by Olga Eschenbach and others, is a set of stories from the 1800s that starts with "Molly and Kitty,” a story about the tough lives of poor people in Ireland as seen through the eyes of sisters Molly and Kitty, who deal with extreme poverty and problems in their family. The story, set amongst social wrongs and personal sacrifices, gets into ideas like love, never giving up, and the strong human spirit in a hopeless situation. The beginning shows a sad setting, stressing the awful conditions of the homes where the poor Irish live. The story mainly follows Molly, a young girl who looks after her blind sister, Kitty, as they suffer from hunger and their father being gone. When their father comes back, Molly worries, hinting that his return might mean changes or bad luck is coming. In the end, Molly shows strength and hope, loving her sister even as they both face the constant difficulties of their lives, with their survival closely connected to the love of family, giving up things for others, and the lasting strength of humans against huge problems.